| Ah, the power of love! Your heart beats faster, | | | | Lightfoot, and George Michael."Cherish," by Terry |
| your eyes open wider, and you're much more | | | | Kirkman, 1966.Kirkman reportedly wrote this |
| likely to listen to a love song. Each February 14, | | | | lovely song in a half-hour while he was the |
| and during the weeks leading up to Valentine's | | | | keyboard player in the overlooked Los |
| Day, the musical choices of the nation turn more | | | | Angeles-based band The Association. Featuring |
| romantic.Over the years, some wonderfully | | | | wonderfully expressive vocal harmonies, the song |
| potent love songs have been recorded. In fact, | | | | is actually about unrequited love, but its feeling of |
| the most difficult part of writing this article was | | | | desire is so strong that this tune still gets played |
| trimming the list down to just ten tunes.So, if you | | | | at weddings and anniversary parties. Some |
| don't find your favorite love song here, send me | | | | Internet sites explain that the recording was |
| an e-mail at and let me know your desires on the | | | | nearly three and a half minutes long, which was a |
| subject. Meanwhile, you might want to visit or for | | | | bit much for radio play in those days, so the song |
| a large selection of songs, often with the | | | | was sped up to 3:13 but listed on the label as 3:00. |
| complete lyrics.But right now, sit back, relax, pop | | | | It later became the first hit for David Cassidy, |
| a chocolate bon-bon in your mouth, and read | | | | star of TV's "The Partridge Family," but that |
| some surprising facts about the Top Ten Love | | | | shouldn't dissuade you from checking out the |
| Songs for Valentine's Day (in chronological | | | | original."God Only Knows," by Brian Wilson, |
| order):"Someone to Watch Over Me," George and | | | | 1966.Although it begins with the line, "I may not |
| Ira Gershwin, 1926.The birthplace of this lovely | | | | always love you," the rest of the song is as |
| and moody number was an otherwise light and | | | | assertive about undying love as anything ever |
| frothy Broadway musical called "Oh, Kay." The | | | | written. In the recording by the Beach Boys, Carl |
| song was originally fast-paced, but soon moved to | | | | Wilson's lead vocal achieves a rarified combination |
| the ballad form, in keeping with the lyrics. There | | | | of strength and tenderness and the entire track is |
| have been evocative renditions of the song every | | | | ethereal in its beauty. Cover versions of the song |
| year since it was first composed, with a wide | | | | appear in the films "Boogie Nights" and "Saved," |
| variety of artists contributing notable versions, | | | | while the original is at the end of the charming |
| including Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Judy | | | | Richard Curtis film, "Love, Actually.""Your Song," |
| Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, | | | | by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, 1967.It is said |
| rapper Queen Latifah (although hers is not a rap | | | | that the original lyric sheet has coffee stains on it |
| version), trumpeter Chris Botti, pianist Keith | | | | because Taupin wrote the song at breakfast one |
| Jarrett, blues legend Etta James, Barbra Streisand, | | | | morning at the home of John's parents, where he |
| and Sting, who sang it over the opening credits of | | | | and the soon-to-be-superstar artist were living. |
| the 1987 Ridley Scott film of the same | | | | While some mistakenly think this was the first |
| name."Night and Day," by Cole Porter, | | | | John/Taupin collaboration, it was one of their |
| 1932.Written for the play, "Gay Divorce," and also | | | | earliest works. John reportedly wrote the melody |
| appearing in the film, "The Gay Divorcee," this | | | | in 20 minutes. The song perfectly captures the |
| may be the most famous of Porter's 800+ | | | | sense of wonder experienced by anyone who has |
| songs, and illustrates his seemingly effortless flow | | | | fallen in love."I Will Always Love You," by Dolly |
| of words, culminating in the bold statement that all | | | | Parton, 1974.When Dolly Parton ended her |
| of life's torments won't end "Till you let me spend | | | | professional songwriting relationship with Porter |
| my life making love to you, day and night, night | | | | Wagoner, she wrote this heartfelt breakup song |
| and day." Such is the economy of Porter's writing | | | | even though they were not romantically involved. |
| that this one phrase combines the singer's desire | | | | The result was a number one country hit for |
| with a promise of eternal love while managing to | | | | Parton. She recorded another version for the |
| invert and restate the title, all in 17 words. It's | | | | 1978 film, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," |
| why many songwriters would want to say to | | | | and again hit number one on the country charts. |
| Porter, "You're the Top," which is another of his | | | | Whitney Houston's version of the song appeared |
| famous songs, and would have made this list if it | | | | in the 1992 film, "The Bodyguard," and dominated |
| wasn't also so full of humor."Unchained Melody," | | | | the pop, soul and adult contemporary charts for |
| Alex North and Hy Zaret, 1936.William Stirrat was | | | | weeks. Not a day goes by without someone |
| 16 and too shy to approach the girl of his dreams, | | | | playing it to demonstrate the depth of their love, |
| so he wrote one of the world's most beautiful | | | | which is ironic since it is a song about saying |
| tales of love and longing (using Zaret as his pen | | | | goodbye."Heaven," by Jim Vallance and Bryan |
| name). The breathtaking melody was by Alex | | | | Adams, 1983.Written for the thankfully forgotten |
| North (who went on to compose scores for | | | | 1983 film "A Night in Heaven," the song also |
| "Spartacus," "Cleopatra," and many other films). It | | | | appeared on Adams' "Reckless" album the |
| took 19 years before their song appeared in the | | | | following year and hit number one. Today, a whole |
| prison picture, "Unchained," where it was | | | | new generation knows the song from DJ |
| nominated for a Best Song Oscar. Al Hibbler sang | | | | Sammy's 2002 dance version, which was |
| it in the film, but that same year saw the song hit | | | | recorded with Yanou and features vocals by Do |
| the charts in versions by Hibbler, Les Baxter, Roy | | | | (Dominique van Hulst). This modern, rhythmic |
| Hamilton, and June Valli. Among the nearly 700 | | | | version, which has dance floor clout yet still |
| artists who have recorded this song are Harry | | | | conveys the swirling all-encompassing passion of |
| Belafonte, Liberace, Jimmy Young, U2, Leann | | | | love, now appears in more than a dozen different |
| Rimes, Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson, Heart, Elvis | | | | remixes and has charted in nearly two dozen |
| Presley, and, of course, the Righteous Brothers. | | | | countries."In Your Eyes," by Peter Gabriel, |
| Their 1965 recording was a huge hit, and reached | | | | 1986.This track from Gabriel's "So" album has |
| the top twenty again a quarter century later | | | | been called the most beautiful love song ever |
| when it appeared on the "Ghost" soundtrack in | | | | recorded. There's no denying its passion and |
| 1990. The duo re-recorded the song the same | | | | power, with unusual chords and lyrics that touch |
| year and THAT version also hit the top | | | | on spiritual and metaphysical themes. Film director |
| twenty."First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," by | | | | Cameron Crowe worked hard (and reportedly |
| Ewan MacColl, 1957.A long, slowly-building flame is | | | | paid two hundred thousand dollars) to get the |
| how some people describe the version sung by | | | | song into his film, "Say Anything" (in the scene |
| Roberta Flack, which created a sensation when it | | | | where John Cusack holds a boom box over his |
| appeared in Clint Eastwood's 1971 directorial debut, | | | | head). Another popular story about the song is |
| "Play Misty for Me." Experimental playwright and | | | | that it was written for Gabriel's then girlfriend, |
| folk singer MacColl wrote it 14 years earlier for his | | | | Rosanna Arquette. If true, it would mean she had |
| partner, Peggy Seeger, who needed a romantic | | | | two hit songs written for her that decade, as she |
| song for a play. Written in less than an hour, the | | | | is the subject of Toto's "Rosanna" from |
| song virtually defines the term "love song." Flack's | | | | 1982.Scott G owns G-Man Music & Radical Radio, |
| is the definitive rendition, but the song has been | | | | where he makes radio commercials and |
| recorded by dozens of performers in many | | | | composes music for radio/TV commercials. As |
| genres, including Johnny Cash, Celine Dion, Elvis | | | | The G-Man, he has 5 albums on iTunes and |
| Presley, Mel Torme, Isaac Hayes, Gordon | | | | distributed by Delvian Records. |